Norwich Football Firm

[1st Wizard 0]

Just out of curiosity, i know it is a backdated thing now, but during the supposed ''glory'' days of football hooligans did we ''little old'' Noriwch have any kind of firm or group?

[bigbear 0]

Surprisingly there have been.  I''m sure there have been at least 2 groups, one called NR1 and the other called the Barclay Boys.  There has possibly been a couple of others.  Even though I have never took part in anything like that, I have found myslef quite interested in it, after watching films, TV documentaries, reading books on the subject over the years.

The Brimson Brothers are 2 blokes who have written a fair few books about their old escapades before they started having kids and settling down, etc.  Norwich, even have appeared in them a few times, but quite rarely to be honest.  Just like with England supporters, it all goes down to reputation.  If you have a bad reputation, opp fans want to take you on to build there own reputation.  Norwich never had one, so most fans wouldn''t come down here looking for a fight, even though it did happen sometimes but not as bad or as often as with other teams  

[1st Wizard 0]

Ahh that is what i thought, it was just I had never heard of any in Norwich.. Then again some teams who used to have bad reps were so I was told not the worst ones.. i.e. Millwall!

Anyone else out there no anymore about Norwich Football Firms of years gone pastt..

[Cluck 0]

I was part of a "Norwich Firm" back in my youth. We fixed lawnmowers but I think they have closed the workshop down now..........

[vkp-otbc 0]

i think there is one called the nhs (norwich hit squad).

[TrueYellow 0]

There is still at least one.

Norwich youth firm. - Pure violence mob

FROM MODS: Link to their site moderated out - exchange it by PM if you want to - Celia

[Arthur Whittle 0]

[quote user="No. 4"]

Ahh that is what i thought, it was just I had never heard of any in Norwich.. Then again some teams who used to have bad reps were so I was told not the worst ones.. i.e. Millwall!

Anyone else out there no anymore about Norwich Football Firms of years gone pastt..

[/quote]

My son was involved with a hooligan firm in norwich called the steins who caused all sorts of bother in the 80s and 90s and i dissowned him for a short time when he was deported from an england game. in his words there is now a norwich firm called norwich hit squad but they dont really cause trouble, just have a beer and go to the games in a group.

[Arthur Whittle 0]

[quote user="No. 4"]Just out of curiosity, i know it is a backdated thing now, but during the supposed ''glory'' days of football hooligans did we ''little old'' Noriwch have any kind of firm or group?[/quote]

there hasnt been any trouble for about 3 or 4 years according to my son who knows a lot of them. some nice chaps, you wouldnt think they had a violent side to look at them. But thats not really the sort of thing we should talk about on a family forum.

[Arthur Whittle 0]

[quote user="TrueYellow"]There is still at least one.

Norwich youth firm. - Pure violence mob

FROM MODS: Link to their site moderated out - exchange it by PM if you want to - Celia[/quote]

according to my son, this "youth" firm are "nothing more than a bunch of chavs who have read too many books and watched the football factory and green street too many times ". My sons quote, hes round with the kids and finds the whole thing quite amusing, mostly because there hasnt been any proper " firm" for years according to him, and it shames me to say he was quite involved in it all. I find the whole thing strange to be honest. Whats wrong with having a drink with a rival fan?

[A Load of Squit 6,260]

[quote user="Arthur Whittle"][quote user="No. 4"]

Ahh that is what i thought, it was just I had never heard of any in Norwich.. Then again some teams who used to have bad reps were so I was told not the worst ones.. i.e. Millwall!

Anyone else out there no anymore about Norwich Football Firms of years gone pastt..

[/quote]

My son was involved with a hooligan firm in norwich called the steins who caused all sorts of bother in the 80s and 90s and i dissowned him for a short time when he was deported from an england game. in his words there is now a norwich firm called norwich hit squad but they dont really cause trouble, just have a beer and go to the games in a group.

[/quote]

Arthur, you really know how to dish out the punishmet, how long was he on the naughty step?

 

[Jim Smith 2,610]

Back in the day used to be the Steins. I think they were linked to one of the local scooter clubs.

More recently the NHS. Are also a couple of small youth firms knocking about.

To be honest these days it appears to be more for show than anything else. There is not often any trouble just groups of blokes getting escorted to and from the ground by the police. Only time i''ve seen us turn out decent numbers away from home in recent times has been QPR the last couple of seasons.

 

 

[Sing up the river end 0]

Yes we had our fair share of idiots aswell :(

[Bentleys Slicked Back Greasy Hair. 0]

Can someone send me the website that has been modded out please. Email to jack-carr@hotmail.co.uk

[Splendid Rush 0]

Interestingly, if you read the book The Football Factory, the first time the protagonist gets a beating at a football match, it is by a group of Norwich hooligans down an alleyway near Carrow Road after a game.

[Tufnell Park Canary 0]

I would recommend that anyone read The Football Factory (but not watch the film).

It examines masculinity, social class and the role violence plays in this.

However, if your interest is purely nonsense football violence why not watch Green Street instead?

[BigFish 2,282]

Back in the days when fighting actually went on inside grounds (70/80s) I seem to remember the Barclay hooligan element being led by a black (very rare in Carrow Road in those days) guy called Bernie Patterson. Seemed well known by opposition crews and and once caused a hilarious amount of chaos at Portman Road attempting to "take" one of the side stands while the main body of City supporters were behind the goal. Lack of numbers always did for them in the end when confronted by the big clubs (as seen in famous Man U visit in 1976). Probably not true but there was a rumour than on one trip North for a game they were all arrested after a fight in Peterborough.

[Arthur Whittle 0]

[quote user="BigFish"]Back in the days when fighting actually went on inside grounds (70/80s) I seem to remember the Barclay hooligan element being led by a black (very rare in Carrow Road in those days) guy called Bernie Patterson. Seemed well known by opposition crews and and once caused a hilarious amount of chaos at Portman Road attempting to "take" one of the side stands while the main body of City supporters were behind the goal. Lack of numbers always did for them in the end when confronted by the big clubs (as seen in famous Man U visit in 1976). Probably not true but there was a rumour than on one trip North for a game they were all arrested after a fight in Peterborough.[/quote]

Yes Bernie is one of the names my son mentioned, he also mentioned that even stranger for a mixed race fella he was involved in right wing activities.

My son reccomends a book to anyone interested. Its called A-Z of Hooligans by Nick Lowles and Andy Nicholls. Does not appeal to me, but my son thinks its a good read. He also says the films the football factory and green street are no where near the realistic and a bit corny/cheesy, although he finds the football factory funny.

[Arthur Whittle 0]

[quote user="A Load of Squit"][quote user="Arthur Whittle"][quote user="No. 4"]

Ahh that is what i thought, it was just I had never heard of any in Norwich.. Then again some teams who used to have bad reps were so I was told not the worst ones.. i.e. Millwall!

Anyone else out there no anymore about Norwich Football Firms of years gone pastt..

[/quote]

My son was involved with a hooligan firm in norwich called the steins who caused all sorts of bother in the 80s and 90s and i dissowned him for a short time when he was deported from an england game. in his words there is now a norwich firm called norwich hit squad but they dont really cause trouble, just have a beer and go to the games in a group.

[/quote]

Arthur, you really know how to dish out the punishmet, how long was he on the naughty step?

 

[/quote]

About 3 years, he was deported from Holland in 1993 and his face was in the papers.

[Arthur Whittle 0]

[quote user="BigFish"]Back in the days when fighting actually went on inside grounds (70/80s) I seem to remember the Barclay hooligan element being led by a black (very rare in Carrow Road in those days) guy called Bernie Patterson. Seemed well known by opposition crews and and once caused a hilarious amount of chaos at Portman Road attempting to "take" one of the side stands while the main body of City supporters were behind the goal. Lack of numbers always did for them in the end when confronted by the big clubs (as seen in famous Man U visit in 1976). Probably not true but there was a rumour than on one trip North for a game they were all arrested after a fight in Peterborough.[/quote]

Oh and apparantly they used to chant "Bernie is our leader" { although i didnt want to name my sons aquantences } and spray "steins r go" all round the city, you still see it in some parts.

[Hard Cell 0]

Still goes on but a closed group.  The reason the book mentions Norwich is because we were taken out at the Old Den before the game, and at Liverpool St Station, but got our own back big time in Clarence road for the home game.  Went off most games in the late 60''s and 70''s.  80''s became more organised and saw the start of the Casual scene (no colours and designer clothes) which is still alive and kicking (excuse the pun) today.

Btw...don''t talk about BP on here.

This "shirters" forum is certainly not for these conversations and neither are the ones quoted on here which are run by kids.  Those involved today very rarely use the internet as those sites are monitored (and have been known to have been started) by the police football intelligence officers (football, police, & intelligence in the same sentence, wow) .......have mobile phone will travel.

DLTFRYD

[1st Wizard 0]

There is actually more about Norwich than I expected, I''m sure there are some people on this forum who used to partake in activites such as this.. anyone got any stories?

 

[Arthur Whittle 0]

[quote user="BDCSid"]

Still goes on but a closed group.  The reason the book mentions Norwich is because we were taken out at the Old Den before the game, and at Liverpool St Station, but got our own back big time in Clarence road for the home game.  Went off most games in the late 60''s and 70''s.  80''s became more organised and saw the start of the Casual scene (no colours and designer clothes) which is still alive and kicking (excuse the pun) today.

Btw...don''t talk about BP on here.

This "shirters" forum is certainly not for these conversations and neither are the ones quoted on here which are run by kids.  Those involved today very rarely use the internet as those sites are monitored (and have been known to have been started) by the police football intelligence officers (football, police, & intelligence in the same sentence, wow) .......have mobile phone will travel.

DLTFRYD

[/quote]

Its proberly not to clever to mention names but its all in the past now and BP is but a distant memory from all accounts. Anyway it does seem that even Norwich has and to a lesser extent still have got a fair few rowdies! Im not going to pretend i didnt now it happened but ive been talking with my son about it and im quite shocked at the extent of it even at a club like Norwich. Although he''s now a father and its very much in the past he knows one or two people with,shall we say,a bit of a ''''reputation'''' from his days drinking in the city. He was telling me about the last time he went with them against Fulham about 10 yrs ago. Apparently the Norwich boys decided to hire a Thames boat trip from london bridge to putney to avoid police detection but the ploice got wind of it and the Norwich police spotter got the Met police to follow it on speed boat and escort it to Fulham! The best bit was when the boat had to stop at westminster to stock up on liquid refreshment. I suppose at the end of the day boys will be boys although im glad its not like that in the grounds these days.

[Syteanric 1]

Football Hooligans are your classic cowards.. they fight in large gangs becasue they can hide behind each other. Punch somone then hide behind the rest of the group so u dont get hit back.

 Get one of these people on their own in the same situation and they''d wet themselves. its amazing what bravado can do when u''ve got someone to hide behind isnt it?

jas :)

[albyella 0]

[quote user="jas the barclay king"]

Football Hooligans are your classic cowards.. they fight in large gangs becasue they can hide behind each other. Punch somone then hide behind the rest of the group so u dont get hit back.

 Get one of these people on their own in the same situation and they''d wet themselves. its amazing what bravado can do when u''ve got someone to hide behind isnt it?

jas :)

[/quote]

 

They are not all like that Jas - when I left Norfolk to join the forces, myself and a few mates would go into London to see our respective teams play the London Clubs. One lad was a Man U fan, and we managed to get in to the Chelsea v Man U game. We were in with the Man U lot, and by half time there were 30 - 40 Chesea lads around our section - suddenly, it kicked off with one Chelsea lad standing toe to toe with 5 or 6 Man U fans - ended up with the Chelsea lads getting a good beating, but none of them backed off.
So while a lot of it is bravado (especially with the younger lads), there are exceptions.

Thankfuly that element has mostly disappeared inside the grounds, allowing the family back into the game.

[Syteanric 1]

[quote user="albyella"][quote user="jas the barclay king"]

Football Hooligans are your classic cowards.. they fight in large gangs becasue they can hide behind each other. Punch somone then hide behind the rest of the group so u dont get hit back.

 Get one of these people on their own in the same situation and they''d wet themselves. its amazing what bravado can do when u''ve got someone to hide behind isnt it?

jas :)

[/quote]

 

They are not all like that Jas - when I left Norfolk to join the forces, myself and a few mates would go into London to see our respective teams play the London Clubs. One lad was a Man U fan, and we managed to get in to the Chelsea v Man U game. We were in with the Man U lot, and by half time there were 30 - 40 Chesea lads around our section - suddenly, it kicked off with one Chelsea lad standing toe to toe with 5 or 6 Man U fans - ended up with the Chelsea lads getting a good beating, but none of them backed off.
So while a lot of it is bravado (especially with the younger lads), there are exceptions.

Thankfuly that element has mostly disappeared inside the grounds, allowing the family back into the game.

[/quote]

in a way that proves my point. There still some chelsea fans for the bloke to hide behind.. he might of been fighting 4 or 5 utd fans but he was still in that group, they probably wiped his backside and held his hand accross the street too didnt they?

 if you saw him walking up the street on his own and shouted "boo" he''d run a  mile.. theres no one there to look after him, no one for him to hide behind, he knows what he will get a beating with no one bigger to bail him out... a coward of the highest order. I laugh at these books by so called Hooligan authors, because we all know theyd bottle it if they were alone.

jas :)

[Mark .Y. 375]

[quote user="jas the barclay king"]

Football Hooligans are your classic cowards.. they fight in large gangs becasue they can hide behind each other. Punch somone then hide behind the rest of the group so u dont get hit back.

 Get one of these people on their own in the same situation and they''d wet themselves. its amazing what bravado can do when u''ve got someone to hide behind isnt it?

jas :)

[/quote]

Although true for some Jas, this was not true for many of the lads who liked a decent tear-up. It is a common myth and is one of the reasons it took our authorities so long to get control of the problem.

Reading Arthurs story about the boat trip reminded me of a famous story regarding Pompey''s 6:57 crew. They wanted to get to Cardiff but had been informed that the old bill would be pulling everybody over on the motorway and "holding in custody" anybody looking as if they were going up for the trouble. Half a dozen of them got kitted out in three piece suits and told the police they were off to a wedding - classic.

Mark .Y.

    

[1st Wizard 0]

I think it is very unfair to say Jas that ''hooligans'' are cowards, I''m sure it takes a lot of guts to take part in some of the brawls especially back then when often weapons were used as well!

Do you think it may have been the ban of terracing, which meant heightened stewarding at games that eventually led to the downfall of football ''firms''.

[Jim Smith 2,610]

I remember that Fulham game as we were wlking across the bridge when the boat full of our boys came cruising along the river followed by a couple of police launches. Was like something out of Benny Hill!

Seems to be one or two days out a season these days when a few of the old faces appear for a bit of a day out! The lads will always be there as (contrary to what some people like to make out) they are real fans and most do go to games. Not much real trouble now though as the consequences are too severe for what in other scenarios would be regarded as pretty minor offences.

 

[Boogle 0]

[quote user="Jim Smith"]

I remember that Fulham game as we were wlking across the bridge when the boat full of our boys came cruising along the river followed by a couple of police launches. Was like something out of Benny Hill!

Seems to be one or two days out a season these days when a few of the old faces appear for a bit of a day out! The lads will always be there as (contrary to what some people like to make out) they are real fans and most do go to games. Not much real trouble now though as the consequences are too severe for what in other scenarios would be regarded as pretty minor offences.

 

[/quote]

I was actually on that boat. See 1st wizards thread "wonderful city memories" , in the archives.

"taking a boat to the match at Fulham, and watching my mate enjoy what he thought was water splashing in his face untill he realised someone was having a p@ss off the deck and was getting soaked in urine."

[gfresh 0]

I have always found the whole scene of firms quite strange a bit like a traffic accident, i know i shouldnt look but for some reason I feel compeled to.

On one hand i find it a bit strange and a bit stupid i one thing i certainly would never get involved in, however, i find it quite interesting to read about all the old firms and the current ones. I sure didnt know that Norwich had such an element.

And this sounds odd but sometimes when i see the trouble on the telly i catch myself thinking "go on son get stuck in!" All very wierd stuff really.